Razor blade reconditioning device



Nov. 17, 1936, c. L. wlLLcox RAZOR BLADE RECONDITIONING DEVICE Filed ,March 21, 1935 1N VENTOR.-

TTORNEY5.

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 Razon BLADE nEcoNnmoNntG nEvTcE v Charles L. Willcox, Atlanta, Ga.

Application March 241, 1935, Serial'No. 12,219

2Claims.

'I'hls invention relates to improvements in devices adapted for use in the reconditioning of razor blades primarily of the thin, flexible, doublethe users palm edged type wherein a blade to be reconditioned is disposed in arcuate or flexed position for pressure contact against non-resilient honing rollers partially rotatable by oscillating contact against or n ngers or suitable tractive surface.

It is an object of this invention to provide a devicev of the class described whereby the sharpening, reconditioning, or stropping of thin, exible, double-edged razor blades is greatly simplified and whereby the use of aggregate parts to accomplish the desired result is substantially eliminated. Likewise, an object of the invention is to provideY a device which is sturdy, but whic is cheap and simple to construct. y

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan-view of a preferred embodiment of my invention. l

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is "a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l. l

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1. i'

Figure 5 is an end elevation wherein the blad detention latch is shown.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view line 6 6 of Figure 2..

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken on the` line I l of Figure. 2.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view taken similarly w Figure-a vsimwmg the blade detention latch in closed position.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing the device readyHfo'r-the reconditioning of the razor blade annexed thereto.

Briefly, it is the concept of my invention vto eliminate the complexity of the usual razor bladey reconditioning operation by providing. a device in which a blade of the type described 'may be disposed and held in flexed or arcuate position with the edges thereof in semi-resilient pressure contact against, and in accurate longitudinal alignment with.' non-resilient honing rollers having circumferential portions thereof exposed for tractive engagement against the users palm or the accompanying drawing, in which, numeral I taken on the 2 2 are perforated, as at 4, to reduce the weight ofthe device, and the lower edges of the side members are recessed, as at v6, the reason for which being later discussed.

Mounted within the frame I in parallel relation to each other are a pair of shafts 6 6 suitably spaced. `The shafts/6 each pass through and rest within suitable bores in one frame end 3 and are heldvrigid with the frame by threaded engagement of counterturned portions T-l of each shaft 6 6 Withthreaded bores in the opposite end member 3.

Rotatively journalled on said shafts 6 .6 are provided, one,for eachshaftfsleeves 8 8. Each sleeve carries a collar portion 9 quadrantly bored and threaded, as lat I0,- two adjacent threaded bores I0 on each collar carrying stop screws or pins II-I I. A'slotted housing I2 suitably bored for rotative reception of each collar portion 9, respectively of each sleeve 8, is mounted over said collars. The collars 9-9 are free to rotate partially Within the housing slot but are limited l ymediate the housing and the opposite end 3 is mounted an abrading roll I3. The length of the fame Il and the width of the housing I 2 are designed for the reception therebetween of abrading rolls suilicient in length for the longitudinal reception of ordinary razor blades. 'I'he diameter of these honing rolls is preferably such that the lower roll circumferences are exposed for. traction through the recesses 5 cut in the sidemembers 2 2, the ends of the roll being protected against damage by the end -members These rolls are composedof abrading material and present continuous, rigid, unyielding surfaces for honing `of the blade. These rolls may be formed from artificial stone, carborundum, or artificial slate or materials of like abrading characte'ristics. The surfaces preferably are smoothed to a good finish by grinding.

Asupport or bridge member I4 is annexed to each end plate 3 and is disposed centrally between the rollers I3. This member carries a pair of studs I5 recessed at their base portions with narrow slots I6-'I6. The studs are longitudinally spaced on the support, member for registration with the apertures of the usual razor blade of the type described. v

A blade placed over the studs with the apertures in registration therewith may be held in depressed position by longitudinal movement of the blade 55 -surfacesincontactwiththengersorpalmof the user and oscillated. Blades of certain relain which movement the blade area adjacent the registering apertures enters the narrow slots ll and becomes held with respect tovertical movement. The elevation of the slots with respect to the elevation ofthe adjacent abrading tolls is preferably such that the blade when in depressed position and when being` held within the slots, is in flexed or arcuate position s o that the cutting edges of the blade are in resilient pressure contact with the honing surfaces of the rolls. Likewise, the longitudinal spaced position of the studs with respect to the frame should be such that the blade inserted over the studs is substantially cenbeing held in closed or open position by the clip .spring I8 annexed to the underside'of the said support member I4 by the screws IS. y For operation of the device, lthe blade to be reconditioned is placed over the studs I5, d downwardly and moved longitudinally for engagement of the blade within the slotted apertures Il. The detention latch I1 is then moved tothe closed position in contact with the v end of the blade.

VWith the blade held within the device in this position, the device isv placed with the lower roller tively stiff characteristics after mounting within the device provideinherent spring resiliency 4against the honing surfaces for adequate honing.

Blades of the type recently sold, however, are made of relatively thin and highly flexible metal be inadequate for successful reconditioning. In such event after mounting of the blade within the device, the thumb or index -finger of the hand used to oscillate the device may be placed centrally on the blade for the exertion of additional pressure so that the cutting edges are held firmly against the honing surfaces. Optionally, however, I have disclosed in my copending application, Serial Number 232,898, patented April 16, 1935, No. 1,998,348, the use of a pressure plate suitable for superposition over the blade whereby additional pressure may be imparted to the blade for adequate honing contact of the blade against the honing surfaces. It has been found in the operation of the'device thatv frequently five to fifteen strokes or oscillations of the device upon the palm is sumcient to completely recondition the edge of the blade in which instance it is not necessary to, turn the blade for a reconditioning of the opposite edge surfaces.

If it is desired tov strop the edges ofthe blade heldin retained position within the device, a strop of width approximately equal to that of the roller length may be pushed upwardly from the bottom of the device through the aperture between the support" and ,the honing roll at one side ofthe blade, and grasped by the user after projection therethrough and pulled through the device while the blade Ais depressed against the hone by contact of the blade with the index finger of the user. One or more operations of this `'nature for each edge of the blade may be desirable. To smooth the upper side of the cutting edges or the sides of the cutting edges not stropped, the-edges may be wiped longitudinally with the strop.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device for reconditioning razor blades, a frame, apair of abrading rolls relatively in spaced parallelism journalled in said frame for a limited arc of rotation in alternate directions and having portions of its peripheral surfaces exposed to oppomte open sides of the frame, a blade holding support bridging said frame between the 'abrading rolls.' rigidly supper-tinge. double edge bladeunder a bowed stress, with its opposite cutting edges in bearing contact respectively against the peripheries of said rolls, the roller surfaces exposed to one open side of said frame, tractively reciprocation of the frame, whereby a surface of the rolls is translated in alternate directions, each 35 respectively across a relative cutting edge ofthe v blade to recondition the same.

2. In a device for reconditioning razor blades,

a frame, a pair of abrading rolls relatively in spaced parallelism journalled' in said frame for a limited arc of rotation in alternate directions and having portions of its peripheral surfaces exposed to oppositeopen sides of the frame, a blade holding support bridging said frame between the abrading rolls, rigidlysupporting adouble edge blade under a bowed stress, with its opposite cutcnanms L. wmcox. 

